Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1887-10-06
ROGER LAROQUE.
Adapted and Translated from the French
of Jules Mary.
BY OLIVE HARPER.

previous by III. Roger LaroQue, a well known
mechanical engineer, whose workshops were
situated in st. Maur street, and who had, be-
sides, an apartment on the Boulevard Males
herbes, at No. III.
In the winter he inhabited his apartments,
and in summer be took refuge, with his wife
and daughter, at Vile d'Avray, but every
morning his business called him to Paris, to
his shops in st. Maur street, and there he
breakfasted, but returned In the evening at
about o'clock to dinner, q habit Of life
quite ordinary with Parisians who, during the
summer, divide their existence In two parts,
the day for Paris, the night for the country.
On the evening which affords the COM
mencement Of our story, in July, 1879, at
O'Clock, quite at variance with his usual
habit, Roger Laroque had not yet returned.
The dinner was waiting. In the parlor,
where two windows opened out upon the ter
race, and in the dining room there was no
one to be seen, and one would have declared
the house uninhabited, so calm and quiet it
seemed in the midst of the silence Of the fad
ing light
Still, at the left of the parlor, two voices
whispered. On that side was Nine. La
roques sleeping apartment, even still deeper
plunged in the fast coming darkness. No
light burned, neither lamp nor candle Two
voices, one superb, grave and sweet, Of such
timbre as would cause you to love the speaker
without even seeing her, and the other, in
fantine and crystal i'll its childish music.
They were the voices of Mime. Henriette La
rogue and her little daughter, Suzanne. Mme
Laroque drew an easy chair near the window,
which was partly open, and seated herself
there, drawing Suzanne close to her.
al fha rf
Laroque with impotence, and the very cot
tage, with its profusion Of flowers and festal
appearance, seemed to be surprised at this
silence and solitude. Itwas Suzanne's seventh
birthday, and she was the only child, little
spoiled by the alteration Of her father, and
now, since the day before, the mother was
trying to teach her pretty little speech
which she was to make to her father upon his
return. They were pretty little words of
welcome and grateful love, and so they sat
here in the darkness whispering them over
and over again, that they might not be for
gotten.
The half hour past 8 struck, and Henriette
made gesture of surprise.
"Your father will not dine at homo this
evening. Come" said she; II do not wish you
to wait any longern
They went into the dining room. Nine.
Laroque rang and ordered that dinner be
served. There were at the villa but three
servants-a coachman, a cook, and o maid
whose name was Victoria and who had been
but two days in her service. The dinner was
a silent one, for in spite Of herself q vague
sentiment of fear oppressed the heart Of the
young wife. Two or three times before
Roger had been retarded, but he had always
telegraphed.
This evening, no news. Whyi They re-
turned to the bedroom. Another hour
dragged by Roger did not come Henriette
sat distracted by the window, crouched in the
deep recesses of the easy chair. Victoria
wanted to bring lights, but she opposed. Ten
o'clocki
"Are you asleep, darlingl' asked Henriette.
"No, mamma" answered the child, whose
eyes were wide open.
"Don't you want to go to bedp
"Oh, no; want to wait and kiss papa
when he comesn
Henriette, prey to anxiety. stepped out
on the balcony and leaned upon the rail, look
ing downward towards the road which Roger,
coming from the cars, habitually took.
Suzanne, standing beside her, looked also.
The night was very warm, without a cloud.
The Villa Montalais was separated from the
Vile d'Avray by gardens and trees. Oppo-
site it, in the chestnut grove, q little TO the
left, was q neat little house, with green
blinds, which stood directly on the street,
while the villa, on the contrary, was separated
from the street by a lawn, constantly re-
freshed by little fountain. This cottage was
lighted, and the open windows showed room
furnished with mahogany, having table in
the middle and at the back a sort Of a secre-
tary desk, pushed up against the wall. At
this instant II o'clock sounded, and Henriette
felt cold shiver of apprehension run over
her, and she interlaced her hands with fear.
At this instant a man Of medium height
passed through the lighted room and seated
himself at the secretary, which he opened.
They could see him distinctly, and Henrietta
and Suzanne looked at him. 1t was the oc-
cupant of that cottage, and his name was
| Laronette.
"Our new neighbor has returned" said the
little girl.
The man had taken from his coat pocket
book and had emptied and spread out before
| him an immense sum of money in bank notes
and rolls of gold pieces, apparently fortune,
| which he began to arrange methodically,
counting and recounting with visible pleasure.
| Henriette and Suzanne saw his profile only,
| his back being turned towards the entrance
| to his ROOM They heard the first quarter ring
on the church clock.
Henriette bent over her child and kissed
her forehead
II will call Victoria to undress you and put
you in bed" said she.
"Oh, mamma, one minute more. Papa
| cannot be much longer
"No, dear, it is very late You will be
tired"
And the young mother stepped aside and
| touched the bell. Victoria not answering al
once, she rang again and returned to the
/ balcony. The moon shone pure in O serene
| sky. Opposite, the neighbor with slow and
circumspect movement and avaricious enjoy.
ment, counted his gold and notes. Victoria
came in.
"Light lamp and the night light said
| Henriette, land then come and take Suzanne.
| At the same instant the little girl leaned
over the balcony clapping her hands, laugh
ing and calling:
"Papa, papal We have been waiting foI
you. did not go to sleep"
And a man came up the street, q few
PAGES from there. He was tall, and wore g
light gray hat, and was dressed in a light
gray redingote, with a cape over the
shoulders. At Suzannes cry he slipped under
| the shadow of the chestnut trees before the
house, and Henriette, by STOPPING, had seer
him also.
@Roger, Rogerr' called she, ''why are you
so latei If you knew how uneasy we have
BEEN
But the man, whether he heard or not
answered nothing. He crept along now
STOPPING under the trees from trunk to trunk
getting always nearer Larouette's cottage
All at once he had to pass clear space, ane
the moon shone full upon him again.
at is Roger. What is he doingl Where /
he goingln murmured Henrietta.
Suzanne, astonished, kept silence, but hel
eyes followed her father with an uneasy curl
osity. And the mother, she scarcely breathed
her heart wrung by an agony Of fear. Hel
hands clenched fiercely on the iron Of the bal
cony. Her face was pale, her teeth set, anC
the man passed the trees and peeped furtive
~ into the neighbors cottage.
@Why," said Suzanne, papa is going TO se'
the neighbor."
A few seconds passed Larouette arose and
standing near his secretary, closed th,
drawers and locked them with slow, method
ical movements. Suddenly something passeC
J behind him which be did not perceive, bu